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PM announces a major investment in the technology of tomorrow
Keeping Canada on the Cutting Edge:
3 June 2009
Quebec City, Quebec
PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERYGood afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Roy, for your kind introduction. Yes indeed, Mr. Roy, that’s my trademark, and it’s our Government’s trademark as well. We keep our word. I promised to come visit your Institute and here I am today. Why? Because our Government believes in science and technology development in Canada. Because our Government believes in the INO. And because we’re right in the middle of a global recession, and organizations like yours spur on the Canadian economy.
I’d like to congratulate our Ministers for making today’s announcement possible. First, Minister Josée Verner, who is without a doubt your biggest backer, Mr. Roy! Josée, you’re working very hard, along with the other Conservative MPs in the region, to lend a hand to local businesses. I’d also like to commend Economic Development Minister Denis Lebel. Denis is crisscrossing the province, visiting all of Quebec’s regions, day after day, announcing job creation projects. If you keep up this pace, Denis, you’ll soon have to table a bill adding an eighth day to the week. Denis, Josée, you both deserve a warm round of applause.
I’d also like to acknowledge Senators Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis and Michel Rivard, who are also here with us today. I’m told they have a lot of friends here. Let’s give them a hand too.
Ladies and gentleman, these are hard times for us all. The global recession, the worst economic crisis since World War Two, is taking a heavy toll. That is why our Government is going to such lengths to help Canada emerge from the recession in the strongest position of any of the major industrialized countries.
Our Economic Action Plan provides for unprecedented investments, historic investments, targeted and effective investments, to bolster our economy during these difficult times. Our finances here in Canada are such that we can take concrete and immediate action to support businesses that want to develop, to support struggling sectors, and to help the unemployed find work.
Our deficit this year, compared to those of the other industrialized countries, is very manageable. For example, the US and Japanese deficits are four times higher than ours. In Canada, we can afford to spend today because we kept our fiscal house in order during the past three years, when times were better. This has left us a degree of manoeuvrability that makes us the envy of other countries.
And it’s thanks to this manoeuvrability that I have the pleasure of announcing today that the Government of Canada is working with the INO to ensure adequate funding for your research projects and to help your partners position themselves better on the international market.
The INO is one of the mainstays of our economy. Thanks to your ingenious people, the Institute now enjoys world renown. Your products are revolutionary. The technologies developed here appear in a host of products that we use every day.
I was tremendously impressed when I was told about the research projects that you are moving ahead with, like the pair of glasses that will allow the vision-impaired to see better. Or the biosensor capable of detecting the presence of bacteria in food processing plants. Your products are even found in space. Truly, the INO knows no borders.
And truly, the INO has no fear of challenges. It serves as an example to all Canadians in these difficult times. To the management and staff of the INO, I say this: for your considerable contribution to Canada’s economic development, you all deserve a warm round of applause.
Ladies and gentlemen, this global economic recession is painful. But it is not without opportunities. And my Government is helping individuals, businesses and municipalities take advantage of these opportunities. Yesterday Minister Lebel announced a major project to upgrade the Vélo-route des Bleuets, which will stimulate the tourism industry in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.
And yesterday, Minister Christian Paradis here in this region, announced an important agreement with the Government of Quebec to ensure that other major job-creating projects roll out over the next two construction seasons.
I’d like to conclude by telling you that when I take part in international summits, many leaders tell me that they envy our economic situation. Here in Canada, we can tackle this global economic recession head on. Canada was the last country to fall into this global economic recession. Of the major industrialized countries, Canada is least affected. And if we stay on track, Canada will emerge from this recession in the strongest position.
Thank you and congratulations once again to the INO.
